Home Health Aides
When restrictions of aging, disability, chronic illness or cognitive difficulty make it challenging for individuals to care fully for themselves at home, home health aides can assist. A home health aide improves the quality of life for people through professional, hands-on care and compassionate kindness. For many Right at Home clients, a home health aide or caregiver becomes a trusted friend.
Home health aides with specialized training can administer a client’s medication or check vital signs under the direction of a registered nurse or other medical professional. Qualified home health aides may also change bandages and dressings and help with medical equipment. Typically, when in-home clients need skilled health care, home health aides are trained as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) or Patient Care Assistant (PCA).*
Role of a Home Health Aide
Home health aides provide everything from companionship to basic health assistance, including:
- Bathing and dressing
- Light housekeeping (laundry, vacuuming, etc.)
- Medication monitoring
- Grocery shopping
- Meal planning and preparation
- Transportation to doctor’s offices and other appointments
- Companionship visits
- Organization of schedules and appointments
- Physical exercise and at-home therapy exercises
In addition, many home health aides are also trained to check pulse, temperature, respiration, help with braces or artificial limbs and perform a number of skilled nursing duties.
Home health aides can also help with specific in-home care needs related to:
- Alzheimer’s and Other Related Dementia
- Hypertension/Stroke Recovery
- Heart Disease
- Cancer Recovery
- Hospice/Palliative Support